Controller for fluid-pressure-actuated devices.



C. T. HENDERSON.

CONTROLLER FOR FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 19I4.

Patented June 1, 1915.

L1%LML CLARK T. HENDERSON, 01F MILWAUKEE, villTllSQOllSIIhl', ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER MFG. 60., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCON S IN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CONTROLLER FOR FLUID-PRESSURE-ACTUATED DEVICES.

manna.

T all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that I, CLARK T. HENDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Fluid-Pressure-Actuated Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying. drawings, forming a part of this specification. V

This invention relates to improvements in' controllers for fluid pressure actuated valves and the like.

The invention is particularly applicable to valves or other devices of the self checking character, and hasamong its objects to provide means insuring full movement of the control valve to check the fluid after operation of the main valve or other device.

Various other objects-and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

in order to more fully and clearly disclose the nature and advantages of the invention the same has been schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawing as applied to a conventional form ofvalve.

It should, of course, be understood that various modifications may be made in the controller illustrated without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The valve illustrated is of a type commonl employed in connection with hydrau ic tu bines and includes a casing 1 having an inlet 2and an outlet 3, the latter being controlled by a plunger t adapted to engage a suitable valve. seat 5. The plunger 4; is reciprocable within a substantially fluid tight chamber 6 centrally disposed within the casing 1 and is adapted to be reciprocated by pressure of the fluid entering the casing. The plunger is adapted to be forced into engagementcwith the seat 5 by admitting fluid from. the casing 1 into the chamber 6 to the rear of said plun er. The reverse movement of the plungerls effected by exhausting the chamber 6 and subjecting the plunger to the pressure of the fluid seeking passage between the same and its seat 5. The aforesaid control of the plunger 4 is effected by a three-way valve 7.. This valve has a connection 8 with the-inlet end of the casing 1, a connection 9 with the rear specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 59, 19141. Mrtal Ito. M7,975.

end of the chamber 6, and a discharge or exhaust connection 10. Also, it has an adjustable plungerfll adapted in its upper extreme position to establish communication between the connections 8 and 9 and in its lower extreme position to establish communication between the connections 9 and 10. In its intermediate position the plunger cuts ofl communication between the connection 9 and both of the connections 8 and 10. Thus when the plunger of the valve 7 is raised it will effect closure of the main valve and when moved to its opposite extreme position will eflect opening of the a link connection 14: with the main valve plunger. The lever 13 is fixed to a spindle 15 projecting through the valve casing and having fixed thereto a second lever 16* connected by a link 17 to the floating lever 12 intermediate of its extremities. The aforesaid connection is such that when the main valve plunger moves to the right it effects depression of the floating lever 12 and upon reverse movement of the main valve plunger effects elevation of the floating lever. Thus whenever the control valve is set in either extreme position to cause operation of the main valve the latter upon moving tends to return the former to initial position. a

-The movement of the control valve to its extreme positions is effected by an electric motor 18. This motor drives through a shaft 19 and pinion 20. a gear 21 having an eccentric connection 22 with the free end of the floating lever 12. The motor, as will "hereinafter appear, is automatically consures against leakage when the valve is sult.

through the next cycle lowers the free end of the floating lever thereby raising the plunger 11 of the control valve.

It will thus be observed that the motor provides means for setting the control valve to eflect operation of the main valve in both directions and that the connection between the main valve plunger and the floating lever provides for return of the control valve to initial position. It will further be observed that the crank operation of the floating lever by the motor" 18 provides for a gradually accelerated initial movement of the control valve-and a gradually: decelerated final movement of the control valve. Thus provision is made for automatic and gradual operation of the main valve.

With the foregoing arrangement the return of the control valve to neutral position is solely dependent upon movement of the main valve plunger and unless the control valve is fully returned to neutral position a continual leakage of fluid is likely to re- This is particularly undesirable where the leakage is through discharge or exhaust as it means the loss of considerable fluid and the means which will now be described is provided to insure against such leakage.

'The aforesaid means is embodied in the connection 22 which is constructed to give the control valve a positive impulse toward neutral position when the motor 18 is stopped.v More specifically, said connection comprises two members23 and 24 the former connected to the gear 21 and carrying a solenoid 25 having its plunger 26 connected to the member 24 attached to the floating lever 12. The member 24 is also connected by a spring 27 to the member 23, said spring serving to normally cohtract the connection comprising said members while said solenoid when energized actingagainst the spring to extend said connection. Thus if thesolenoid 25 is energized as the connection is moved upwardly by the eccentric to effect opening of the main valve and. is-denergizedat the limit of movement of the connection, said solenoid will act as follows: It will first act to extend the connection 22 and thereby move the control valve in the same direction as the eccentric. Then when the eccentric is arrested it will permit the connection to contract under tension of spring 27 and thus move the control valve in a reverse direction toward neutral position; In other words, the contraction of the connection 22 acts upon the control valve in the same manner as the main valve and in consequence augments the action of the latter at its limit of movement; This insures full return movement of the control valve toshut off communication between the chamber 6 and the discharge 10 and in consequence invalve as above set forth.

open. It will of course be obvious that similar means might also be provlded to insure full return movement of the control valve from its other extreme position ifdesired.

The motor 18 may be controlled in various different ways to effect operation of the The controller ilustrated is very simple and is as follows:

a The gear 21 has fixed to its shaft three constaggered whereby one is engaged by its brush during one half revolution of the gear and the other is engaged by its brush during the other half revolution of the gear. These segments and brush are included in the motor circuit and constitute a limit switch requiring the motor to be started by selective operation of a switch S having contacts 33, 34 and 35. a

The circuit arrangement is as follows: When the contact arm 33 is moved into engagement with contact 34 it completes a circuit from line L byconductor 36 through the solenoid 25 by conductor 37 to brush 32" and when said brush engages its segment this circuit is continued to segment 31 and brush 31, by conductor 38 through the motor armature A and field winding F, by conductor 39 to line L. This circuit when closed effects response of the solenoid and operation of the motor to open the valve, as aforesaid. The valve being shown in open position the segment 32 has accordingly been shown as out of engagement with the brush 32. Hence, to close the motor circuit it is necessary to move the arm 33 into engagement with contact 35, which completes circuit by conductor 40 to brush 30 and segment 30 to segment 31 and brush 31, by conductor 38 through the motor, as already traced. Completion of this circuit causes the motor to operate to lower the connection 22 and when the gear 21 has rotated 180 the segment 30 leaves its brush 30, thereby automatically opening the motor circuit. The motor circuit may then be reestablished by returning the lever 33 into engagement with contact 34 and after the gear 21 has rotated 180 the segment 32 disengages its brush 32 to automatically stop the motor and denergize the solenoid 25.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor actuated thereby toward normal position and independent means assisting in effecting full movement of said valve to normal position.

2. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operable to effect movement of said device and anemia actuated by said device towardnormal posi-' tion, and independent means acting automatically to assist in returning said valve to normalposition upon completion of movement of said device.

3. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operable to effect movement of said device and actuated by said device toward normal position and means acting automatically after a definite time interval to insure full movement of said valve to normal position.

4. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operable to efl'ect movement of said device, an operative connection between said valve and said device tending to restore the former to normal position upon movement of the lat-.

normal position upon movement of the latter and electromagnetically controlled means acting to insure full movement of said valve to normal position after a definite time interval. p

6. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor, an operative connection between said valve and said device tending to move the former in one direction upon movement of the latter, and means efl'ective for a limited period to move said valve in the opposite direction and at the expiration of said period acting upon said valve in the same direction as said device. p 4

7. In combination, a pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor, a connection between said valve and said device tending to move the former to normal position upon movement ofithe latter and automatic means acting upon said valve to effect movement of said device for limited periods and then acting upon said valve in conjunction with said device to effect full movement ofsaid valve to normal position.

8. The combination with a fluid pressure actuated device, of a control valve therefor, an operative connection between said device and said valve tending to return the latter to normal position upon movement of the former and power-operating means for said valve acting thereon with a gradually terminated effect and means associatedwith said.last mentioned means to assist said device in effecting full return movement of said valve to normal position.

9. The combination with a fluid pressure actuated device, of a control valve therefor, an operative conneetionbetween said valve and said device tending to restore the former.

time interval and means associated with said former means to assist in the restoration of said valve to normal position after release thereof by said operating means.

10. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor actuated toward normal position by movement of said device, actuating means .for said valve, and a connection between said valve and said means acting upon cessation of operation of said means to assist in restoring said valve to normal position.

11. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operatedtoward normal position upon movement of said device, operating means for said valve and an electromagnetically controlled connection between said valve and said means acting upon the cessation of movement of said valve by said means to assist in restoring said valve to normal position.

12. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operated toward normal position upon movement ofsaid valve, power operating means for said valve, an operative connection between said valve and said means acting upon cessation of operation of said means to assist in restoring said valve to normal position, and means controlling said power means to limit the same to definite operating periods.

13. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor operated toward normal position by movement of said device, a rotatable member, an eccentric connection between said member and said valve for operating the latter and means for arresting said rotatable member in different positions of said connection.

1a. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor movable toward normal position by movement of said device, and means for movin valve away from normal position inc uding a connection to be extended and contracted for re'versemovement of said valve and having automatic control determining the the interval of time between such. operations thereof.

15. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor, a. floating lever for actuating said valve, an operative connection, between said device and said floating lever, a power operated eccentric and an electromagnetically controlled extensible conne tion between said eccentric and said floating lever for the purpose set forth.

16. In combination, a fluid pressure operated device, a control valve therefor, a floatdill Eli

said

ing actuating lever for said valve, a connectlon between said lever and said device,

a motor operated eccentric, an electromagneti cally controlled extensible connection between said eccentric and said lever and automatic control means for said motor and said electromagnetically controlled connection.

17. In combination, a fluid pressureoperated device, a control valve therefor, a floating actuating lever for said valve, a connection between said lever and said device, a motor operated eccentrlc, an electromagnetically controlled extensible connection beand said device, a rotatable member having an eccentric connection with said floating lever to operate the same to move said valve and means for rotating said member in a single direction to move said lever in opposite directions.

'19. In combination, a fluid pressure actuated device, a control valve therefor, a floating lever operatively connecting said valve and said device, a power-operated rotatable member having an eccentric connection with said floating lever to operate the same, and means to arrest said rotatable member automatically in different positions to effect cessation of the flow of fluid to said valve.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARK T. HENDERSON. Witnesses TEKLA BAs'r, L. A. WATSON. 

